Fiber material having improved malodor scavenger properties

ABSTRACT

Described are fiber materials having improved malodor scavenger properties and a process for the manufacture of said materials. In particular, described are fiber materials usable in the manufacture of disposable or washable diapers, incontinent products, sanitary napkins and other such hygiene and personal care articles with improved malodor scavenger properties, and to methods of manufacturing such materials. It has been found that the incorporation of, especially nanosized, metal particles and/or a cyclodextrin material into fibers creates a “reactive” material having excellent malodor scavenging properties. More specifically, it has been found that the presence of nanosized metal or metal alloy particles and/or a cyclodextrin material in a fiber material, preferably a synthetic polymer material and more preferably a synthetic thermoplastic polymer fiber material leads to fiber materials or nonwovens having odor-controlling properties. The fiber material especially is useful in the manufacture of hygienic products like disposable diapers.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a Continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/656,670 filed on Sep. 5, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No.7,470,464 entitled “Fiber Material Having improved Malodor ScavengerProperties”. The entire disclosure of the prior application isconsidered as being part of the disclosure of the accompanyingapplication and hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to fiber materials having improved malodorscavenger properties and a process for the manufacture of saidmaterials. The invention especially relates to fiber materials usable inthe manufacture of disposable or washable diapers, incontinent products,sanitary napkins and other such hygiene and personal care articles withimproved malodor scavenger properties, and to methods of manufacturingsuch materials.

The present invention also relates to corresponding articles, andmethods of manufacturing such articles.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Besides having some liquid-impermeable barrier film or sheet, hygieneand personal care articles such as diapers, incontinent products andsanitary napkins are often provided with some absorptive capacity formore efficiently containing the liquid or semi-liquid excretions whichthey are intended to prevent from soiling underwear or other items ofclothing.

Even when the article is disposable, malodors caused by volatilecomponents or volatile decomposition products of such excretions cancause discomfort, already during normal wear before the article isdisposed.

A related problem arises in the temporary storage of such soiledarticles, be they disposable or washable, before their disposal orbefore laundering, as applicable. Malodors emanating from such storedarticles are highly undesirable.

A permeant, contaminant or volatile in the meaning of the presentinvention is a substance that can exist in the atmosphere at asubstantial detectable concentration and can escape from such anarticle. A large variety of such permeants or volatiles are known.

Usually soiled diapers are stored in a lockable container or resealablegarbage bag, which is e.g. placed in the nursery, before transportingthem to an outdoor storage vessel. It is widespread to use plasticdiaper pails having a tight lid for the temporary storage of the soileddiapers. Said bags or diaper pails reduce the release of the unpleasantodors when sealed. However, the barrier properties of e.g. thermoplasticgarbage bags known in the art are limited and are not satisfactory.

In our co-pending application WO 03/025067 entitled “Barrier materialhaving nanosized metal particles” we have disclosed an improved barrierfilm or sheet material that can e.g. be used to produce improvedcontainers and improved constructive components for articles such asdiapers.

While we will hereinafter disclose and exemplify the invention withreference to specific embodiments and applications such as diapers, itis to be understood that this disclosure applies mutatis mutandis to allother comparable articles suffering from similar malodor problems.

Disposable diapers have met with increased commercial acceptance inrecent years and many different constructions have been proposed andused. Usually, the moisture absorbing functions are accomplished by amultilayer diaper comprising a liquid pervious top sheet or facinglayer, intended to be facing the wearer during use, in the form of anonwoven material for example a spunbond material. Moreover, disposablediapers often have a liquid acquisition layer between the topsheet andthe absorbent body, said liquid acquisition layer having the ability toquickly receive large amounts of liquid, to distribute it andtemporarily store it before it is absorbed by the underlying absorbentbody. This is important especially in today's thin compressed absorbentbodies often with a high amount of so called superabsorbents, which havea high absorption capacity but in many cases a too low absorption speedin order to be able to absorb the large amount of liquid that can bedischarged. The top sheet or facing layer often is made of a porousmaterial and its fibers have less wettability for water than the fibersof the absorbing material, resulting in a tendency for liquid to flowfrom the facing layer into the absorbing unit. Liquid, which might passthrough the absorbing unit during discharge, (when flow is rapid) isheld back by an impervious backing sheet or film for sufficient time topermit absorption to take place. However, the outer or backing layerdoes not prevent volatile substances or odors from permeating throughsaid layer.

The absorbent body can be of any conventional kind. Examples of commonabsorption materials are cellulosic fluff pulp, tissue layers, highlyabsorbent polymers (so called superabsorbents), absorbent foammaterials, absorbent nonwoven materials and the like. It is known tocombine cellulosic fluff pulp with other materials in an absorbent body.It is also common to have absorbent bodies comprising layers ofdifferent materials with different properties concerning liquidacquisition capacity, liquid distribution capacity and liquid storagecapacity. Conventional absorbent layers or bodies have noodor-controlling properties.

Many of the materials used in the manufacture of the aforementionedsanitary products are fibrous materials. Beside cellulosic fibermaterials, materials derived from synthetic or thermoplastic fibers areuseful for a wide variety of applications in diapers, feminine hygieneproducts, incontinence products, towels, medical garments, medical andpharmaceutical products and many others.

It is clear that the problems indicated above with respect to soileddiapers apply to the same extent to other articles, e.g. incontinentproducts, medical dressings, sanitary napkins or any other articleemitting volatile substances.

While some of the malodor problems caused by such soiled hygiene andpersonal care articles can be overcome by the improvements disclosed inour said co-pending application, it is possible to further improve sucharticles, in terms of their olfactory properties both in use and instorage after use, by a different approach based on our presentinvention, as disclosed herein.

In WO 97/33044 the use of cyclodextrin in rigid or semi-rigid cellulosicsheets is disclosed. The cyclodextrin acts as a barrier or a trap forcontaminants. The barrier properties of the material disclosed in WO97/33044 are based on entrapment of the respective permeants in theinternal hydrophobic space of the cyclodextrin molecule. Thecyclodextrin material is generally used in the form of a compatible,derivatized cyclodextrin. According to WO 97/33044 the preferredcyclodextrin is a derivatized cyclodextrin having at least onesubstituent group bonded to the cyclodextrin molecule.

Moreover, it is known from WO 97/30122 that the barrier properties of athermoplastic polymer can be improved by forming a barrier layer with adispersed compatible cyclodextrin derivative in the polymer.

WO 93/10174 is directed to thermoplastic films containing one or moremetal powders selected from aluminum powder, magnesium powder, zincpowder and manganese powder.

The application is directed to a thermoplastic film which ischaracterized in that the film comprises at least 0.1 wt. %, preferably0.5 to 6 wt. %, based on the total weight of the mixture ofthermoplastic and filler, of at least one metal powder, selected fromthe group consisting of aluminum powder, magnesium powder, manganesepowder and mixtures thereof. According to WO 93/10174 the averageparticle size of the metal powders is in the range of 5-20 μm.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In none of the aforementioned documents of the prior art, fibermaterials comprising fibers and dispersed in the fibers reactive metalparticles and/or modified cyclodextrin, or articles made from suchfibers are disclosed.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention a fibermaterial is provided, the material comprising:

-   -   (a) fibers; and    -   (b) dispersed in the fibers, an effective malodor scavenging        amount of particles of zinc or similar reacting metal or metal        alloy, or a cyclodextrin material; wherein the cyclodextrin is        free of an inclusion complex compound and the cyclodextrin        comprises an α-cyclodextrin, a β-cyclodextrin, a γ-cyclodextrin        or mixtures thereof, having pendant moieties or substituents        that render the cyclodextrin compatible with the fiber material        or    -   a combination of said particles and said cyclodextrin material.

It is believed that the material according to this exemplary embodimentof the present invention has improved malodor scavenging properties.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Closed-Volume jar with aluminum sealing rings for use in fibersorption tests;

FIG. 2 Chloroacetic acid sorption profiles of five fiber mats. Headspaceconcentration of chloroacetic acid (in μg) as a function of time forjars containing mat compositions containing nanozinc and/orcyclodextrin. Four sequential additions of 9.90 μg each of chloroaceticacid was added to sealed glass jars containing nonwoven mats at time=0,10, 20 and 30 minutes; and

FIG. 3 Closed-volume static permeation cells for malodor vaporpermeation sensory testing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Surprisingly, it has now been found that the incorporation of,especially nanosized, metal particles and/or a cyclodextrin materialinto fibers creates a “reactive” material which may have excellentmalodor scavenging properties. More specifically, it is believed thatthe presence of nanosized metal or metal alloy particles and/or acyclodextrin material in a fiber material, preferably a syntheticpolymer material or a synthetic thermoplastic polymer fiber material maybe advantageous in achieving excellent malodor scavenging properties.

In one important aspect of this invention, the fiber material used asabsorbent and/or as constructive material in a hygiene or personal carearticle, comprises a cyclodextrin material or metal particles or acombination of cyclodextrin material and metal particles, capable ofscavenging malodor-causing volatiles and permeants, said scavengingcausing the complete or at least partial neutralization of saidvolatiles and permeants.

In another important aspect of the invention, such metal particlesand/or cyclodextrin materials are comprised inside of the said fibers.In another aspect of the invention, said metal particles and/orcyclodextrin materials are dispersed throughout said fibers. In yetanother aspect of this invention, the said metal particles are nanosizedparticles.

The invention includes a method of producing such fibers, whichcomprises incorporating such metal particles and/or cyclodextrinmaterials in the fibers when the fibers are produced.

The invention also includes articles made using such fibers e.g. inliquid-permeable layers and sheets such as top sheets in e.g. diapers,napkins and pads, and/or in liquid-absorbing layers or regions of e.g.diapers, napkins and pads.

The invention includes methods for manufacturing such articles,comprising the incorporation of such absorbing materials and/or sheetmaterials.

The metal particles in the meaning of the present invention may be“nanosized particles” having an average diameter generally in the rangeof 10 to 500 nm, or in the range of 40 to 250 nm or even in the range of60 to 150 nm. It is believed in the present invention that the use ofparticles having an average diameter of more than 1000 nm may bedisadvantageous, where the fiber thickness is reduced. Of course, wherethe fiber thickness is sufficient to incorporate bigger particles, themetal particles may be bigger than nanosized, as above defined.Additionally, larger metal particles may impact on fiber color (i.e. adarker color) a negative aspect in many personal care applications.

According to the present invention it may be advantageous to use zincparticles i.e. particles substantially consisting of metallic zinc, inunreacted form. However, also the use of similar reacting metal or metalalloy particles instead of, or in addition to, zinc particles iscontemplated in the present invention. It may be advantageous that thezinc or other metal particles are essentially free of correspondingoxides.

If a cyclodextrin material is dispersed in the inventive fiber material,it should have some low moisture content, preferably a moisture contentof about 1 wt.-%, based on the cyclodextrin material.

It has been found in the present invention that the inventive fibermaterials containing metal particles and/or cyclodextrin derivatives areparticularly suitable for the manufacture of diapers, incontinentproducts, medical dressings, sanitary napkins etc., since the fibermaterial functions as an effective scavenger of malodorous permeants,especially reactive permeants, emitting from excrements etc.

Volatiles or permeants emitting from e.g. excrements comprise lowmolecular organic acids, organic sulfides and thiols, amines, ammoniaand aromatic alcohols. Most of these compounds have human sensorythresholds in the low parts per billion.

The inventive fiber materials are able to at least partly permanentlyscavenge the permeants reaching the fibers. In the context of thisinvention, “scavenging” comprises destructive as well as non-destructiveneutralization or bonding of malodorous volatiles. Scavenging may e.g.involve chemical reaction with volatile molecules which leads to changesin their chemical characteristics or just bonding, complexing, chelatingor other processes which fix the volatile molecules, more or lesspermanently, at or in the fibers without permanently changing themolecular structure of the volatiles.

Without wishing to be bound by any scientific theory, we assume that themetal-reactive permeants (e.g., volatile acids, sulfides, thiols,mercaptanes) react with the metal particles. The resulting reactionproducts in most cases have less odor. Moreover, the metal-reactivepermeants, nonreactive permeants as well as the aforementioned reactionproducts are at least partly complexed by the cyclodextrin material,preventing their release into the environment. Accordingly, theincorporation or dispersion of cyclodextrin, metal particles or bothinto fibers may lead to a significant reduction of malodorous volatiles.

The polymer material of the fibers according to the present inventioncan be a thermoplastic material or a crosslinkable thermoplasticmaterials including polymers made from monomers including ethylene,propylene, butylene, butadiene, styrene and others. Moreover, suchthermoplastic polymeric materials includepoly(acrylonitrile-co-butadiene-co-styrene) polymers, acrylic polymerssuch as the polymethylmethacrylate, poly-n-butyl acrylate,poly(ethylene-co-acrylic acid), poly(ethylene-co-methacrylate), etc.;cellophane, cellulosics including cellulose acetate, cellulose acetatepropionate, cellulose acetate butyrate and cellulose triacetate, etc.;fluoropolymers including polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon®),poly(ethylene-co-tetrafluoroethylene) copolymers,(tetrafluoroethylene-co-propylene) copolymers, polyvinyl fluoridepolymers, etc., polyamides such as nylon 6, nylon 6,6, etc.;polycarbonates; polyesters such as poly(ethylene-co-terephthalate),poly(ethylene-co-1,4-naphthalene dicarboxylate),poly(butylene-co-terephthalate); polyimide materials; polyethylenematerials including low density polyethylene; linear low densitypolyethylene, high density polyethylene, high molecular weight highdensity polyethylene, etc.; polypropylene, biaxially orientedpolypropylene; polystyrene, biaxially oriented polystyrene; vinyl filmsincluding polyvinyl chloride, (vinyl chloride-co-vinyl acetate)copolymers, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl alcohol, (vinylchloride-co-vinylidene dichloride) copolymers, specialty films includingpolysulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphenylene oxide, liquid crystalpolyesters, polyether ketones, polyvinylbutyral etc.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention the polymer materialis a thermoplastic material such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PP(polypropylene) and PE (polyethylene) as conventionally used for fibersin hygiene and personal care article absorbents, top-sheets and othertextile or non-woven components. It may be especially advantageous touse polypropylene as the polymer material.

The inventive fiber material or the fibers may be in the form of anon-woven material containing spunbound, conjugate and bi-constituentfibers comprising said metal particles and/or cyclodextrin material. Anonwoven fabric or web is a web having a structure of individual fibersor threads which are held or bound together. Nonwoven fabrics or webshave been formed from many processes such as for example, meltblowingprocesses, spunbonding processes, electrospinning and bonded carded webprocesses.

So-called “meltblown fibers” are fibers formed by extruding a moltenthermoplastic material through a plurality of fine, usually circular,die capillaries as molten threads or filaments into a high velocity gas(e.g. air) stream which attenuates the filaments of molten thermoplasticmaterial to reduce their diameter, which may be to microfiber diameter.Thereafter, the meltblown fibers are carried by the high velocity gasstream and are deposited on a collecting surface to form a web ofrandomly disbursed meltblown fibers.

Meltblown fibers can be incorporated into a variety of nonwoven fabricsincluding composite laminates such as spunbond-meltblown-spunbond(“SMS”) composite sheets. In SMS composites, the exterior layers arespunbond fiber layers that contribute strength to the overall composite,while the core layer is a meltblown fiber layer that provides barrierproperties.

“Spunbonded fibers” refers to small diameter fibers which are formed byextruding molten thermoplastic material as filaments from a plurality offine openings, which are usually circular capillaries of a spinnerette.The polymer is fiberized as it passes through fine openings arranged inone or more rows in the spinnerette, forming a curtain of filaments. Thefilaments are usually quenched with air at a low pressure, drawn,usually pneumatically and deposited on a moving foraminous mat, belt orforming wire to form the nonwoven fabric. Polymers useful in thespunbond process generally have a process melt temperature of betweenabout 200° C. to 320° C.

The fibers produced in the spunbond process are generally in the rangeof from about 10 to about 100 μm in diameter, depending on processconditions and the desired end use for the materials to be produced fromsuch fibers. For example, increasing the polymer molecular weight ordecreasing the processing temperature result in larger diameter fibers.

So-called “nanofibers” are fibers formed by electrospinning processes.Nanofibers or nanofiber nonwoven webs usually have fibers in the rangeof from about 0.04 to about 2 μm in diameter. Nonwoven nanofibermaterials are used in the manufacture of e.g. medical and pharmaceuticalproducts, barrier fabrics and air filters.

Electrospinning uses an electric field to draw a polymer melt or polymersolution from the tip of a capillary to a collector. A voltage isapplied to the polymer, which causes a jet of the polymer to be drawntoward a grounded collector. The fine jet forms polymeric fibers, Whichare collected on a web.

The metal particles and/or the cyclodextrin material which provide thescavenging effect are generally incorporated in the fibers. It may beadvantageous that the metal particles and/or the cyclodextrin materialis uniformly dispersed in the fibers.

In the invention the amount of zinc or similar scavenging metal or metalalloy in the fiber material is generally in the range from about 0.015to 1.0 wt-% and preferably from about 0.015 to 0.2 wt-%, based on thefiber material.

According to the present invention the amount of cyclodextrin derivativein the fiber material preferably is in the range from about 0.01 to 5.0wt-%, more preferably from about 0.1 to 1.0 wt-%, based on the fibermaterial.

In another exemplary embodiment, the inventive fiber materialadditionally comprises cellulosic materials. Cellulosic materials arecomprised of bonded, small discrete cellulosic fibers. Such fibers aretypically held together by secondary bonds that, most probably, arehydrogen bonds. To form a cellulosic sheet, fiber is formed into a roughweb or sheet on a fine screen from a water suspension or dispersion offiber, combined with fiber additives, pigments, binder material,secondary binder materials or other components. Cellulosic materials canbe made both from primary sources of fibers and from secondary orrecycled fibrous materials.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a disposablehygiene or personal care article comprising the inventive fiber materialis provided. In this, it is preferred that the article's top-sheetand/or absorbent layer incorporates the inventive fiber material inorder to prevent or reduce the emission of malodors.

The cyclodextrin derivative (if used) is selected, based on thefunctional group compatibility with the polymer material of the fibers,the thermal stability of the cyclodextrin material and thecyclodextrin's ability to form an inclusion complex with volatilesubstances. The cyclodextrin derivative can contain one substituent onthe single primary carbon hydroxyl and/or one substituent on one or bothof the secondary carbon hydroxyls.

Cyclodextrin is commonly produced by a highly selective enzymaticsynthesis. It generally consists of six, seven, or eight glucosemonomers arranged in a donut shaped ring, which are denoted alpha-,beta-, or gamma-cyclodextrin, respectively. The specific coupling of theglucose monomers gives the cyclodextrin a rigid, truncated conicalmolecular structure with a hollow interior of a specific volume. Thisinternal cavity is a key structural feature of the cyclodextrin,providing the ability to complex molecules (e.g., aromatics, alcohols,halides and hydrogen halides, carboxylic acids and their esters, etc.).The complexed molecule must satisfy the size criterion of fitting atleast partially into the cyclodextrin internal cavity, resulting in aninclusion complex.

For use in the present invention, the cyclodextrin derivative maypreferably based on alpha-cyclodextrin (alpha-CD), beta cyclodextrin(beta-CD), gamma-cyclodextrin (gamma-CD) or mixtures thereof. Apreferred cyclodextrin derivative is, inter alia, selected based on thefunctional group compatibility with the fiber material on one hand andthe cyclodextrin's ability to form an inclusion complex with targetedsubstances on the other hand.

Accordingly, a first requirement is compatibility with the thermoplasticmaterial as well as thermal stability in the manufacturing process.“Compatible” means that preferably the cyclodextrin material can beuniformly dispersed into the fiber material, can retain the ability totrap or complex permeant materials or polymer impurity, and can residein the polymer without substantial reductions in scavenging properties.

Second, the cyclodextrin's internal cavity size (i.e., α, β, γ) must beconsidered. Any derivative functional group modification must besuitable for forming an inclusion complex with targeted volatiles orimpurities. To achieve a specific result, providing more than one cavitysize and functional group may be necessary. For example, blends of αand/or β that contain γ-cyclodextrin have greater complexationefficiencies for some volatile substances than blends withoutγ-cyclodextrin. Computational modelling indicates that the type andnumber of functional groups on the ring provide different complexationenergies for specific ligands (i.e., complexed substances). Thesecomplexation energies (ΔE^(steric) and ΔE^(electrostatic)) can becalculated for a specific derivative, cavity size and ligand. Hence,inclusion complexation is predictable to some extent. For example, theinventors found out that acetylated α-cyclodextrin, acetylatedβ-cyclodextrin and acetylated γ-cyclodextrin are very effectivecyclodextrin derivatives for improving the scavenging properties of theinventive fiber material.

The compatible cyclodextrin derivative according to the presentinvention is a compound substantially free of an inclusion complex. Inthis invention, the term “substantially free of an inclusion complex”means that the quantity of the dispersed cyclodextrin material in thefiber material contains a large fraction having cyclodextrin free of acontaminant, a permeant or other inclusion compound in the interior ofthe cyclodextrin molecule. A cyclodextrin compound is typically addedand blended in the polymer without any inclusion compound but somecomplexing can occur during manufacture.

In principle, the preferred cyclodextrin derivative can contain onesubstituent on the single primary carbon hydroxyl and one substituent onone or both of the secondary carbon hydroxyls. Because of the geometryof the cyclodextrin molecule, and the chemistry of the ringsubstituents, the hydroxyl groups are not equal in reactivity. However,with care and effective reaction conditions, the cyclodextrin moleculecan be reacted to obtain a derivatized molecule having a certain numberof hydroxyl groups derivatized with a single substituent type. Furtherdirected synthesis of a derivatized molecule with two differentsubstituents or three different substituents is also possible. Thesesubstituents can be placed at random or directed to a specific hydroxyl.For the purposes of this invention, a broad range of pendant substituentmoieties can be used on the molecule. These derivatized cyclodextrinmolecules can include alkyl ether, silyl ether, alkyl ester, includingcyclodextrin esters such as tosylates, mesylate and other related sulfoderivatives, hydrocarbyl-amino cyclodextrin, alkyl phosphono and alkylphosphate cyclodextrin, imidazoyl substituted cyclodextrin, pyridinesubstituted cyclodextrin, hydrocarbyl sulphur containing functionalgroup cyclodextrin, silicon-containing functional group substitutedcyclodextrin, carbonate and carbonate substituted cyclodextrin,carboxylic acid and related substituted cyclodextrin and others.

Acyl groups that can be used as compatibilizing functional groupsinclude acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, trifluoroacetyl, benzoyl andacryloyl groups. The formation of such groups on the hydroxyls of thecyclodextrin molecule involve well known reactions. The acylationreaction can be conducted using the appropriate acid anhydride, acidchloride, and well known synthetic protocols.

Cyclodextrin materials can also be reacted with alkylating agents toproduced an alkylated cyclodextrin. Typical examples of alkyl groupsuseful in forming the alkylated cyclodextrin include methyl, propyl,benzyl, isopropyl, tertiary butyl, allyl, trityl, alkyl-benzyl and othercommon alkyl groups. Such alkyl groups can be made using conventionalpreparatory methods, such as reacting the hydroxyl group underappropriate conditions with an alkyl halide, or with an alkylating alkylsulfate reactant.

Tosyl(4-methylbenzene sulfonyl), mesyl(methane sulfonyl) or otherrelated alkyl or aryl sulfonyl forming reagents can also be used inmanufacturing compatibilized cyclodextrin molecules.

Sulfonyl containing functional groups can be used to derivatize eitherof the secondary hydroxyl groups or the primary hydroxyl group of any ofthe glucose moieties in the cyclodextrin molecule. The reactions can beconducted using a sulfonyl chloride reactant that can effectively reactwith either primary and secondary hydroxyl. The sulfonyl chloride isused at appropriate mole ratios depending on the number of targethydroxyl groups in the molecule requiring substitution. Sulfonyl groupscan be combined with acyl or alkyl groups.

The sulfonyl derivatized cyclodextrin molecule can be used to generatethe amino derivative from the sulfonyl group substituted cyclodextrinmolecule via nucleophilic displacement of the sulfonate group by anazide-ion. The azido derivatives are subsequently converted intosubstituted amino compounds by reduction. Large numbers of these azidoor amino cyclodextrin derivatives have been manufactured. Examples ofnitrogen containing groups that can be useful in the invention includeacetylamino groups (—NHAc), alkylamino including methylamino,ethylamino, butylamino, isobutylamino, isopropylamino, hexylamino, andother alkylamino substituents. The amino or alkylamino substituents canfurther be reactive with other compounds that react with the nitrogenatom to further derivatize the amine group.

The cyclodextrin molecule also can be substituted with heterocyclicnuclei including pendent imidazole groups, histidine, imidazole groups,pyridino and substituted pyridino groups.

Cyclodextrin derivatives can be modified with sulfur containingfunctional groups to introduce compatibilizing substituents onto thecyclodextrin. Apart from the sulfonyl acylating groups mentioned above,sulfur containing groups manufactured based on sulfhydryl chemistry canbe used to derivatize cyclodextrin. Such sulfur containing groupsinclude methylthio (—SMe), propylthio (—SPr), t-butylthio (—S—C(CH₃)₃),hydroxyethylthio (—S—CH₂ CH₂ OH), imidazolylmethylthio, phenylthio,substituted phenylthio, aminoalkylthio and others. Based on the ether orthioether chemistry set forth above, cyclodextrin having substituentsending with a hydroxyl aldehyde ketone or carboxylic acid functionalitycan be prepared. Cyclodextrin with derivatives formed using siliconechemistry can contain compatibilizing functional groups.

Cyclodextrin derivatives with functional groups containing silicone,herein called silicon ether, can be prepared. Silicone groups generallyrefer to groups with a single substituted silicon atom or a repeatingsilicone-oxygen backbone with substituent groups. Typically, asignificantly proportion of silicone atoms in the silicone substituentbear hydrocarbyl (alkyl or aryl) substituents. Silicone substitutedmaterials generally have increased thermal and oxidative stability andchemical inertness. Further, the silicone groups increase resistance toweathering, add dielectric strength and improve surface tension. Themolecular structure of the silicone group can be varied because thesilicone group can have a single silicon atom or two to twenty siliconatoms in the silicone moiety, can be linear or branched, have a largenumber of repeating silicone-oxygen groups and can be furthersubstituted with a variety of functional groups. For the purposes ofthis invention the simple silicone containing substituent moieties arepreferred including trimethylsilyl, mixed methyl-phenyl silyl groupsetc.

In exemplary embodiments of the present invention the cyclodextrinmaterial comprises substituents having a silyl ether group, an alkylether group and/or an alkyl ester group. According to the presentinvention the alkyl ester substituents may comprise acetyl moieties,propyl moieties and/or butyl moieties and/or maleated polyethylenehaving a #CH₂)_(n)-chain wherein n=8 to 15,000, the alkyl ethersubstituents may comprise methyl moieties, ethyl moieties and/or propylmoieties and the silyl ether sub stituents may comprise methyl moieties,ethyl moieties, propyl moieties and/or butyl moieties.

The fiber material according to this invention can also contain otheradditives, which do not adversely affect the performance of the metalparticles and/or the cyclodextrin. According to another exemplaryembodiment, the inventive fibers or the resulting fiber material canadditionally be treated (e.g. coated) with unmodified (or modified)cyclodextrin.

The modified cyclodextrin and/or the nanosized zinc or similarscavenging metal may preferably be dispersed in a thermoplasticfiber-building material. The resulting material can be a homogeneousmaterial with the scavenging actives substantially evenly dispersedthroughout the polymer matrix. This homogenous material is formed intofibers by conventional methods as used in the industry. The manufactureof textiles or non-wovens from such fibers is also conventional.

In principle, the inventive fiber material can be obtained by amanufacturing method comprising the following steps:

a) physically mixing the particles of zinc or similar reacting metal ormetal alloy and/or the cyclodextrin material into the material to bemanufactured into fibers (fiber-building material), wherein thephysically mixing may be achieved by extrusion,

b) producing fibers from the material obtained in step a), preferably bymelt spinning, wet spinning, electrospinning or dry spinning.

If the fiber material is a synthetic thermoplastic material, theinventive fiber material comprising at least one thermoplastic polymer,a nanosized zinc or similar scavenging metal and a modified cyclodextrincan be created e.g. by the following procedure:

In a first (optional) step a cyclodextrin-containing thermoplasticmaterial is prepared by physically mixing and dispersing the minorconstituent, i.e. modified cyclodextrin into the major constituent, i.e.the polymer, e.g. by extrusion. Suitable extrusion techniques includethe so-called “direct incorporation” and “masterbatch addition”. Ineither method it is preferred to use twin-screw co-rotating segmentedbarrel extruders. Of course it is also possible to use counter rotatingor single screw extruders for mixing or dispersing the cyclodextrinmaterial into the polymeric material. It is clear that the modifiedcyclodextrin can be added individually or in combination with othersuitable additives or adjuvants.

After mixing or dispersing the cyclodextrin material into the polymericmaterial the nanosized zinc particles are dispersed in the resultingmolten plastic. The reactive zinc particles to be added usually aredispersed in a mineral oil to protect the zinc from oxygen and moisture.At least some portion of mineral oil is stripped from the plastic e.g.in the extruder using heat and vacuum. The resulting material is e.g.pumped out of the extruder and pelletized.

Alternatively, the metal particles can be dry blended with the polymericmaterial or polymeric powder.

However, it is also possible to add the zinc or metal particles to thepolymer material and subsequently add the cyclodextrin material in orderto obtain fiber materials according to the present invention.

The material comprising the polymer and the scavenging actives is thensubjected to conventional processing for the manufacture of textilefibers or non-woven fibers. It may be advantageous to produce fibers byusing spunbond processes or meltblowing processes.

Such fibers may then be processed into textiles or non-wovens and may beused to manufacture top-sheets, absorptive layers and other componentsof hygiene and personal care articles with improved olfactoryperformance in and after use.

The foregoing discussion illustrates various embodiments of theinvention. The following examples and data further exemplify theinvention.

Nano-size Zinc and Triacetyl Alpha-Cyclodextrin Masterbatch Compounding

A segmented barrel (seven barrels), co-rotating compounding extruder(Haake 16 mm twin screw with a 28:1 L/D) was configured with anup-stream feed zone for homopolymer polypropylene (ExxonMobil PP3155 fornonwoven fiber applications) having a 0.9 g/cm3 density and a melt flowrate (230° C./2.16 Kg) of 36 g/10 min. A weight loss feeder is used todeliver PP into the barrel. The polypropylene was starve fed into thefirst zone, melted in the second zone using 60° offset mixing elementsfollowed by 90° offset mixing elements and a reverse half feed screw. Inthe third zone, the zinc suspension (1 part zinc to 2 parts oil wt./wt.)was fed through a port in the top of the extruder using a low injectionrate pump (Ministatic Pump manufactured by Manostatic). Duringprocessing, the zinc/oil suspension was constantly agitated using a stirplate and stir bar. The zinc mixture (pumped at 63.6 grams Zn/hr)containing 0.467 grams Zn/milliliter of mineral oil. In the fourth zone,the zinc was mixed into polypropylene using the same mixing elements asin the second zone. The fifth zone consisted of conveying screw elementsto pump the resin through the die. The feed rate of the resin was 2 kgper hour, all zone temperatures were set at 150° C., the rpm of thescrews were 130, the melt temperature at the die was 230° C. and thetorque was 60-75% of maximum. The strands pass through a water bath andtwo air wipes before entering the strand cutter. The finished pelletsare placed into a nitrogen purged Mylar/foil composite bag heat sealedwith a bag sealer to prevent atmospheric contamination until use.

The 3.2 wt.-% Haake nanozinc masterbatch above was further let down to a0.35% nano zinc masterbatch using a one (1) inch Killion single screwextruder. The 3.2 wt.-% nanozinc masterbatch was dry pre-blended withvirgin PP3153 and the blend fed into the feed zone using a volumetricfeeder. The finished pellets are placed into a nitrogen purgedMylar/foil composite bag heat sealed with a bag sealer to preventatmospheric contamination until use.

An alternative manufacturing procedure for producing a nanozincmasterbatch is dry pre-blending the nanozinc with polypropylene powder(20 to 500 micron particle size). The nanozinc powder is added to the PPmicro-powder at a 0.25 wt-% to 1.0 wt.-%. The PP micro-powder is used asa binding agent for the nanozinc. Standard dry-blending equipment(ribbon blenders, fluidized action mixers, V-shell blenders and conemixers) is used to homogenize the polymer and nanozinc prior toextrusion compounding. The PP/nanozinc powder mixture is fed directlyinto the throat of the extruder using a volumetric or weight lossfeeder.

A second masterbatch formulation was produced with triacetyl alphacyclodextrin without zinc. The triacetyl alpha cyclodextrin was dried at105° C. for 12 hours. The 5% triacetyl alpha cyclodextrin in PP3155 wasproduced using a 16 mm Haake twin screw extruder with a 28:1 L/D and thesame screw configuration and conditions as the zinc masterbatch. ThePP3155 and triacetyl alpha cyclodextrin were dry blended and fed intothe port in zone 1, and the port in zone 3 was closed. The strands passthrough a water bath and two air wipes before entering the strandcutter. The finished pellets are placed into a nitrogen purgedMylar/foil composite bag and heat-sealed.

Masterbatch formulation #1 contained 99.65% PP3155 and 0.35% nano-sizeparticle zinc (80-100 nm). Masterbatch formulation #2 contained 95.0%PP3155 and 5% triacetyl alpha cyclodextrin. The nanozinc material wasobtained from Argonide, the heavy mineral oil from Aldrich Chemical andtriacetyl alpha cyclodextrin was manufactured by Wacker BiochemCorporation.

TABLE 1 PP3155 masterbatch formulations. Masterbatch Compositions (wt.-%in PP3155) Masterbatch Nanozinc Triacetyl α CD Formulations Particlesize 80-100 nm Degree of Substitution = 3.0 Formulation #1 0.35 wt.-%Formulation #2 5 wt.-%Nonwoven Fiber Mat Preparation

A series of nonwoven fiber materials using virgin PP3155 and the twomasterbatch formulations in Table 1 were converted into nonwoven fibermat (Table 2) using a spunbound manufacturing process. The nonwovenfiber mat was produced on a 1 meter Reicofil II Spunbond Line. Weightloss feeders were used to deliver PP3155 virgin pellets and masterbatchpellets into the extruder feed zone based on the weight percents inTable 2. The target of 22 μm fibers in 25 gm/m² mats were produced andconfirmed on each formula. All formulations were produced under the sameprocess conditions and no measurable differences were observed in theprocess measurements. Fiber diameter is an average of 10 measurementswith the exception of Mat #4 where 20 measurements were taken. Thediameter of non zinc fiber (control PP and cyclodextrin containingfiber) is 22.0 μm, and the zinc containing fiber is 21.4 μm.

TABLE 2 Spunbound nonwoven fiber mat test samples. Nonwoven FiberCompositions Nonwoven [% by wt.] Fiber Mat Masterbatch Triactyl αsamples Formulations PP3155 Nanozinc Cyclodextrin Mat #1   100% Mat #2Formulation #1 99.965% 0.035% Mat #3 Formulation #2  99.5% 0.50% Mat #4Formulation #1  99.95% 0.050% Mat #5 Formulation #'s 99.465 0.035% 0.50%1&2

Organic Vapor Sorption. The term sorption is generally used to describethe initial penetration and dispersal of permeant molecules into apolymer matrix and includes both adsorption and absorption as well ascluster formation. Sorption behavior is based on the relative strengthsof the interactions between the permeant molecules and the polymer, orbetween the permeant molecules themselves within the polymer, orimmobilization of permeant molecules by sites (e.g., zinc andcyclodextrin) in the polymer. The sorption test method is most easilyexplained in terms of a nonwoven fiber mat structure surrounded by afixed volume (e.g., glass jar). The fiber mat structure and the volumeare initially completely free of the test solute inside the close-volumejar. At time zero, and at several subsequent times, the test mats areexposed to a known concentration of test solute. The headspaceconcentration in the fixed volume surrounding the test structure isquantitated using gas chromatography. The sorptive rate and capacity ofthe nonwoven structure is determined from the headspace concentration inthe closed vessel. The effectiveness of the fiber for reducing thesolute headspace concentration is directly related to fiber sorption.

This experimental technique is designed to quantitatively measure soluteheadspace concentration in the fixed-volume cell. High-resolution gaschromatography (HRGC) operated with electron capture detection (ECD) isused to measure the headspace concentration. The solute in the headspaceis quantitatively collected by solid phase microextraction (SPME) fromthe test cell and analyzed by HRGC/ECD. Solute concentration isdetermined from calibration standards and measured in micrograms (μg).

Instrument Conditions. The following SPME HRGC/ECD instrument conditionsused in the analyses are provided in Table 3.

TABLE 3 Method condition for gas chromatograph and solid phasemicroextraction. Method: Chloroacetic acid Target permeants:Chloroacetic acid Sampling technique: Solid Phase Microextraction (SPME)Fiber: Carbowax/Divinylbenzene (70 mm) Sorb time: 2 minutes at roomtemperature Desorb time: 1 minute at 220° C. Column: Retention gapDimensions: 3M × 0.25 mm i.d. Film thickness: Uncoated Carrier gas:Helium Headpressure: 8 psi (0.35 mL/min) Injection mode: SplitlessDetector: Electron Capture (ECD) Detector temp: 290° C. (60 mL/minNitrogen) Injector temp: 220° C. Initial temp: 50° C. Initial hold: 3minutes Temperature rate: 0° C./minute Final temperature: 50° C. Finalhold: Total analysis time: 3 minutes

Nonwoven fiber mat samples (mat cut into a 12.7 cm×12.7 cm square having22 μm fibers in a 25 gm/m² mat) are tested in a closed-volume vaporsorption cell (refer to FIG. 1). The closed-volume cell method has twoglass compartments (i.e., cells). The large cell side has a volume of1,200-mL and the small side cell a volume of 280-mL. Two test mats areplaced inside the large cell side; the cells are assembled using soft,aluminum sealing rings to provide a hermetic seal between the glasscells as screws around the sealing flange firmly pull the two cellstogether forming the air tight seal. The sorption standard forevaluating the nonwoven test mats contains chloroacetic acid. Thephysical and chemical parameters of chloroacetic acid are provided inTable 4.

TABLE 4 Chloroacetic acid physical and chemical test permeantparameters. Dissociation Constants in Aqueous Molecular BoilingDiffusion¹ Solutions Permeant Weight Point [° C.] D, [m²/sec] K pK Temp.[° C.] Chloroacetic 94.50 189 6.98 × 10⁻¹³ 1.40 × 10⁻³ 2.85 25 acid¹Calculated by lag time in HDPE blown film.

Example 1 Quantitative Sorption Performance of Nonwoven Mat

Nonwoven mat reactivity and capacity was measured by placing test matsinto a glass jar which is subsequently sealed and then filled with areactive test vapor. Over the test time period, the headspace vaporpartitions into the fiber. The vapor concentration is measured in theheadspace of the glass jar as a function of time. These data are used toquantitatively measure the sorptive performance of these active nonwovenmats. The measured effect of the active zinc and/or cyclodextrin in thefiber matrix is a reduction in the vapor concentration in the jarcompared to PP fiber without the active technology. The partitioncoefficient and diffusion coefficient will be identical for test matssince the PP polymer is identical. The headspace concentration over thetest period (40 min) demonstrates the effectiveness of the test mats forremoving volatile molecules from the headspace. Nonwoven test matperformance is then a function of the sorption of chloroacetic acid inthe nonwoven mat fiber resulting in a corresponding decrease in theheadspace. Four sequential 1-μl injections of chloroacetic aciddissolved in methanol (at 9.90 μg chloroacetic acid/μL) were made intothe glass jar through a rubber septum. The first chloroacetic acidinjection is at time zero, then three additional injections were made at10, 20 and 30 minutes, respectively. The headspace was measured bytaking a time composite sample every five minutes after the chloroaceticacid injection using a two minute SPME sampling interval. The SPMEheadspace samples are analyzed by HRGC/ECD (method conditions Table 3).Quantitative results are provided in Table 5 and plotted in FIG. 2.

TABLE 5 Headspace concentration of chloroacetic acid (in μg) as afunction of time for jars containing mat compositions containingnanozinc and/or cyclodextrin. Four sequential additions of 9.90 μg eachof chloroacetic acid was added to sealed glass jars containing nonwovenmats at time = 0, 10, 20 and 30 minutes. Chloroacetic Acid Jar HeadspaceConcentration (Headspace concentration in micrograms - μg) Chloroaceticacid Additions Inj. Inj. Inj. Inj. Elapsed Time (min) 0 5 10 15 20 25 3035 40 Sample Conc. μg μg μg μg μg μg μg μg μg Mat #1 (Control) 4.09 4.167.21 7.19 9.78 9.67 12.1 12.0 11.3 Mat #2 (0.035-% nano Zn) 2.71 2.704.66 4.71 6.59 6.57 8.05 8.08 7.95 Mat #3 (0.5% TA-α-CD) 2.43 2.46 4.294.30 5.63 5.75 7.13 7.12 7.05 Mat #4 (0.05% nano Zn) 2.49 2.53 4.29 4.536.07 6.11 7.33 7.50 7.47 Mat #5 (0.5% TA-α-CD + 0.035% 2.63 2.58 4.634.54 6.19 6.20 7.77 7.69 7.51 nano Zn)

This experiment provides the functional capacity estimates for thenanozinc and/or cyclodextrin containing nonwoven fiber. A least squareslinear regression fit to the chloroacetic acid headspace concentrationsas a function of time show a 0.251 μg/min. slope for control mat and0.171, 0.161, 0.157 and 0.147 μg/min. for 0.035 wt.-% nanozinc, 0.05wt.-% nanozinc, 0.5 wt.-% triacetyl α cyclodextrin+0.035 wt.-% nanozincand 0.5 wt.-% triacetyl α cyclodextrin, respectively. The chloroaceticacid concentration slope is 1.7 times greater for the control nonwovenmat than 0.5 wt.-% triacetyl a cyclodextrin nonwoven mat over thetime-period from 0 minutes to 40 minutes. Similar slope concentrationdifferences were measured for the other nonwoven mat samples containingnanozinc and cyclodextrin/nanozinc combinations. The nonwoven fiberexamples in Table 5 clearly demonstrate PP fiber containing adsorptivesites (nanozinc and/or cyclodextrin), sorb and immobilize more headspacesolute molecules than PP fiber without adsorptive or reactive sites. Theeffect of a faster solute sorption rate is to reduce the concentrationof malodor compounds in air surrounding the fiber.

Example 2 Sensory Evaluation of Nonwoven Mat for Malodor Reduction

A synthetic diaper malodor concentrate (produced by Bush Boake Allen,Ltd.) was used to evaluate the odor reducing performance in the nonwovenmats in Table 2. Analysis of the “neat” malodor concentrate by gaschromatography mass spectrometry indicated approximately fifteen majorcompounds (Table 6). The general classes of chemicals contained in thesynthetic malodor are organic acids, sulfur, nitrogen and aromaticalcohol compounds. Most of the compounds identified in Table 6 havehuman sensory thresholds in the low parts per billion, and for onecompound, 3-methylindole (skatole), a threshold in the low parts pertrillion. Skatole is a common fecal odor. Research literature onvolatile malodor-causing substances in human waste (feces and urine)show about 90% of the malodor causing substances were fatty acids:acetic acid, propanoic acid, and butyric acid. Ammonia is listed atabout 6.5%. Other malodor-causing minor substances were skatole, indole,pyrine, pyrrole, hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan.

TABLE 6 Compounds identified in synthetic malodor by gas chromatographymass spectrometry. Aromatic Organic Acids Sulfur Nitrogen Alcohol Aceticacid Carbon disulfide Ammonia 4- Methylphenol Butyric acidMercaptoacetic 4-Methylmorpholine acid Isovaleric acid 2-4-Methyl-4-oxide Naphthalenethiole morpholine Hexanoic acidDimethylhydantoin Octanoic acid 3-Methylindole Hexanamide

Detection of the synthetic diaper malodor compounds in the standardstatic sorption test at concentrations that represent real worldunpleasant sensory values is not feasible because the human sensorythreshold for these compounds is well below the detection limits ofthese compounds by instrumental methods of analysis. While gaschromatography equipped with various detectors will give specificqualitative and quantitative measurements on malodor components, odorperception is based on the component stream, not just individualcomponents. The instrumental analytical techniques were abandoned andsensory techniques (i.e., human nose) were substituted for odorintensity detection.

Experimental mat diaper malodor reduction performance was measured instatic permeation cells constructed from Mason brand glass canning jars.Each jar has a volume of approximately 450-ml. Two screw cap lids areattached top-to-top with epoxy adhesive allowing the two jars to beattached as shown in FIG. 3. One of the jars serves as a reservoir forthe diaper malodor and attachment of the mat by stretching the mat overthe jar mouth and screwing the lid over the mat. Immediately under themat is an absorbent filter paper cut to the diameter and used to releasethe diaper malodor standard during testing The other jar serves as acollection reservoir for the permeating malodor compounds. This jar isscrewed to the opposing lid and is removed periodically during the testto evaluate odor. Teflon tape is used on the glass jar threads prior toassembly to securely seal the jars during the test.

The diaper malodor concentrate was diluted 1,100× and 715× in deionizedwater. An aliquot of the malodor dilution is transferred to a filterpaper cone in the malodor reservoir side. Next, the test mat is placedover the open end of the jar with approximately 2-cm of mat extendingbeyond the jar's lip. Then the double-sided cap is screwed down tightlyfollowed by the odor evaluation jar. One (1) milliliters of the dilutioncorrespond to a mass of active malodor compounds of approximately 200 μgfor the 1,100× dilution and approximately 315 μg for the 715× dilution.The mass of active malodor compounds injected is greater than thecapacity of the test mat used in the method. The odor evaluation jarswere maintained at 38° C. Deionized water dilutions of the malodorprovided water vapor in the malodor reservoir side to simulate theenvironment of a used diaper. The odor evaluation jar is unscrewed andevaluated for odor and quickly replaced. Generally, two (2) odorevaluations are made over the test period for malodor intensity. Aneight-point malodor intensity scale from 0=no malodor to 8=very strongmalodor was used. Randomized test samples are provided to the panelistwho independently ranks the malodor intensity. Samples yielding an odorranking below about 2 would barely be perceived by the general public.

TABLE 7 Sensory malodor intensity scores for nonwoven Mat #1 (control)and four active nonwoven fiber mats. Tests were conducted withapproximately 200 μg of active malodor compounds. Odor evaluation jarswere maintained at 38° C. during testing. Nonwoven Fiber Mat MalodorSensory Score* (Test mat: 12.7 cm × 12.7 cm square, 22 μm fibers in a 25gm/m² mat) Mat #5 Mat #3 Mat #4 (0.5% Time Mat #1 Mat #2 (0.5% (0.05%TA-α-CD + (min.) (control) (0.035% Zn) TA-α-CD) Zn) 0.035% Zn) 75 4 2 11 1 125 4 2 0 1 1 Key: 0 = No odor; 1 = Just detectable odor; 2 = Veryslight odor; 3 = Slight odor; 4 = Slight-Moderate odor; 5 = Moderateodor; 6 = Moderate-Strong odor; 7 = Strong odor; 8 = Very strong odor

TABLE 8 Sensory malodor intensity scores for nonwoven Mat #1 (control)and four active nonwoven fiber mats. Tests were conducted withapproximately 315 μg of active malodor compounds. Odor evaluation jarswere maintained at 38° C. during testing. Nonwoven Fiber Mat MalodorSensory Score* (Test mat: 12.7 cm × 12.7 cm square, 22 μm fibers in a 25gm/m² mat) Mat #5 Mat #3 Mat #4 (0.5% Time Mat #1 Mat #2 (0.5% (0.05%TA-α-CD + (min.) (control) (0.035% Zn) TA-α-CD) Zn) 0.035% Zn) 60 5 4 33 2 Key: 0 = No odor; 1 = Just detectable odor; 2 = Very slight odor; 3= Slight odor; 4 = Slight-Moderate odor; 5 = Moderate odor; 6 =Moderate-Strong odor; 7 = Strong odor; 8 = Very strong odor

The tests results in Tables 7 and 8 show a significant odor intensityimprovement for active fiber Mat #2 through Mat #5 over Mat #1 (control)for the malodor test concentrations and odor evaluation times. Thecombination of a nanozinc and triacetyl alpha cyclodextrin show bettermalodor reduction for the synthetic diaper malodor concentrate thancyclodextrin or nanozinc alone. However, also the incorporation ofnanozinc or triacetyl alpha cyclodextrin leads to a significant malodorreduction for the synthetic diaper malodor concentrate. Theeffectiveness of the active nonwoven fibers is clearly been demonstratedin terms of kinetic rate of reduction as established in the quantitativeclosed-volume sorption test and also in human odor perception based on acomplex synthetic mixture of malodor components.

1. A fiber material having improved malodor scavenging properties,comprising: (a) fibers; and (b) dispersed within the fibers, aneffective malodor scavenging amount of a cyclodextrin material; whereinthe cyclodextrin is free of an inclusion complex compound and thecyclodextrin comprises one of an α-cyclodextrin, a β-cyclodextrin, aγ-cyclodextrin and mixtures thereof, having one of pendant moieties andsubstituents that render the cyclodextrin compatible with the fibermaterial, wherein the fibers are made by electrospinning a polymersolution containing the malodor scavenging amount of the cyclodextrin,the cyclodextrin comprising at least one substituent having an alkylether group.
 2. The material of claim 1, wherein the fiber material is athermoplastic material.
 3. The material of claim 2, wherein thethermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting ofpolyolefines, polyester, polyamides, acrylic polymers, cellulosicpolymers, polycarbonates, polyimide materials, polyvinyl alcohol,polysulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyphenylene oxide, polystyrene,polystyrene copolymers, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride,polyether ketones and mixtures thereof.
 4. The material of claim 2,wherein the thermoplastic material is a polypropylene.
 5. The materialof claim 1, wherein the amount of cyclodextrin material in the fibermaterial is in the range from about 0.01 to 5 wt.-% based on the fibermaterial.
 6. The material of claim 1, wherein the substituents havingthe alkyl ether group comprise at least one moiety selected from thegroup consisting of methyl moieties, ethyl moieties and propyl moieties.7. The material of claim 1, wherein the particles of the cyclodextrinmaterial are uniformly dispersed in the fibers.
 8. A method formanufacturing a fiber material having improved malodor scavengingproperties, comprising: (a) physically forming a polymer solutioncontaining a cyclodextrin material, the cyclodextrin being free of aninclusion complex compound and the cyclodextrin comprising one of anα-cyclodextrin, a β-cyclodextrin, a γ-cyclodextrin and mixtures thereof,having one of pendant moieties and substituents that render thecyclodextrin compatible with the fiber material (b) producing fibers byelectrospinning the polymer solution containing the malodor scavengingamount of the cyclodextrin, the cyclodextrin comprising at least onesubstituent having an alkyl ether group.
 9. A hygienic article,comprising: a fiber material having improved malodor scavengingproperties, the fiber material comprising fibers and, dispersed withinthe fibers, an effective malodor scavenging amount of a cyclodextrinmaterial, wherein the cyclodextrin is free of an inclusion complexcompound and the cyclodextrin comprises one of an α-cyclodextrin, aβ-cyclodextrin, a γ-cyclodextrin and mixtures thereof, having one ofpendant moieties and substituents that render the cyclodextrincompatible with the fiber material, wherein the fibers are made byelectrospinning a polymer solution containing the malodor scavengingamount of the cyclodextrin, the cyclodextrin comprising at least onesubstituent having an alkyl ether group.
 10. The hygienic article ofclaim 9, wherein the article is a disposable diaper.
 11. The hygienicarticle of claim 10, wherein at least one of a facing layer and anabsorbent layer of the disposable diaper comprises the fiber materialhaving improved malodor scavenging properties.